Twitter users sent more than 500 million tweets per day in 2014. On Wednesday, the social network released its annual round-up of the most influential and popular tweets of the year.

During the Academy Awards, host Ellen DeGeneres pulled together Oscar winners, nominees and other celebrities to take a “selfie.” She challenged viewers to make it the most shared tweet of all time. It didn’t take long for that to happen.

The photo featured stars like Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Julia Roberts, Lupita Nyong’o and Brad Pitt. Within hours, the tweet had eclipsed the previous record holder, a tweet sent by Barack Obama’s account after he won re-election in 2012. The Oscar selfie has been retweeted more than 3.3 million times – more than four times as many as the Election Night tweet. Click through to see the top Tweeters of the past year. Read More »

Facebook released its year-end findings on the topics users discussed most on the social network. They could be viewed as a reflection of the interests of the overall population. About 74% of U.S. adults on the Internet use Facebook, according to the Pew Internet Project.

Most of the topics that dominated discussion this year were major, ongoing news stories or sporting events.

Facebook’s top 10 lists were based on how frequently a topic was mentioned in users’ posts in 2014. In its methodology, the company said the posts “were analyzed in an aggregated, anonymized way.” Read More »

Germany defeated Argentina 1 – 0 to take home the World Cup title for the second time in a quarter century. Millions of people gathered at bars or huddled around televisions at homes and restaurants across the world to watch the spirited game.

Will Ferrell joined American soccer fans in Recife, Brazil at the U.S. Soccer World Cup Fan party last night.

“We’ll see you all at the stadium tomorrow,” Mr. Ferrell said, referring to this afternoon’s U.S.-Germany match while high-fiving members of the cheering crowd. “Look for the guy … in a red, white and blue bikini top.”

Retired U.S. soccer star Kristine Lilly knows a thing or two about playing under the World Cup spotlight. Not only was she part of the U.S. women’s national teams for five FIFA Women’s World Cups, she is also the world record holder for the highest number of international caps at 352.

“It’s more nerve-racking to watch than to play,” Lilly told Speakeasy about viewing the tournament this week. She watched Sunday’s nail-biting U.S.-Portugal match with a couple of her former soccer teammates. “You can’t control what happens on the pitch when you’re not playing.” Read More »

With just one week to go until the 2014 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Brazil, decorated soccer player Thierry Henry shared his predictions for the tournament at a Beats by Dre ad campaign screening Wednesday night.

While acknowledging the strengths of Argentina, Germany and reigning champion Spain, the 36-year-old striker views the tournament’s host country as the biggest threat. “You still have to beat Brazil in Brazil,” said Henry, who helped win the World Cup for France in 1998. “And that’s the thing that I just don’t see happening.”

As for his native France’s chances, he said, “You always have a team that surprises people, right?” Read More »

That’s one of the tricky cultural questions marketers behind Pitbull’s new World Cup song are grappling with as they try to engineer a “pan latin” global mega-hit, writes Reed Johnson in this week’s Arena section. The project’s sponsors, SONY Music Entertainment and FIFA, are hoping to repeat the raging success of past World Cup songs like Shakira’s impossibly catchy “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)” and Ricky Martin’s “The Cup of Life.” But it’s no easy task—and in the 52 years since the first World Cup song was named, only a handful have become worldwide hits. Here are some of the top performers. Read More »

Two weeks ago, actress and singer Patti LuPone grabbed a cell phone out of the hand of an audience member who was texting during a performance of her current play, "Shows for Days." The bold move led to an outpouring of support from fans fed up with glowing screens. Ms. LuPone gives us her five rules of theater etiquette.